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Eurosport Provide 3D Content for New Nintendo Console

Eurosport have announced a two-year, pan-European partnership with Nintendo to provide 3D sports content for the company’s new 3D console. The agreement represents the latest move by Eurosport into 3D, after becoming one of the most prominent supporters of 3D development over the past 18 months.

Nintendo 3DS will now receive exclusive and extensive exposure via Eurosport across their multi-media communication platforms including TV, Internet and mobile broadcasts.

Eurosport Group chairman and CEO Laurent-Eric Le Lay stated: “We are pleased to partner with Nintendo to provide compelling sports video content for the newest game console, 3DS.”

He added: “Eurosport has always been at the forefront of new technology and this partnership is another demonstration of our commitment to innovation and our ability to reach new audiences by making Eurosport content available on as many platforms as possible.”

West Brom Albion Looks to India to Replace Zoopla as Sponsor

Despite the loss of main sponsor Zoopla, West Brom Albion have revealed today they are in talks with numerous leading Indian businesses to sponsor the Premier League team.

Property website Zoopla announced that they would not be renewing their current sponsorship deal, which is set to end at the end of the season, in the aftermath of the ‘quenelle’ saga involving Nicolas Anelka.

Talks with the Indian firms are said to be at an early stage but Albion’s marketing director Adrian Wright has revealed that there are a number of businesses with a genuine interest.

Wright told the Express and Star: “We are going to meet some top corporate houses in India which have shown interest in becoming a sponsor.

“It’s in a preliminary stage, but if an Indian company becomes our sponsor it would be a great development for us. We are going to meet them before we fly out on Saturday.

“If it happens, the name of an Indian company will be seen for the first time on the jersey of an EPL club during Premier League matches.”

15 Sports Broadcasting Deals of the Week: 06/12/13

1	Optima Sports Secures 2014 FIFA World Cup Rights in Nigeria	Thursday, 05 December 2013
2	Telstra Announce Football Federation Australia Partnership	Thursday, 05 December 2013
3	Eurosport Extends Bundesliga Broadcast Deal in 22 Countries	Wednesday, 04 December 2013
4	Sportradar Acquires Turkish Cup Rights	Wednesday, 04 December 2013
5	Manchester United Inks SPOTV Deal for MUTV to Air in Korea	Monday, 02 December 2013
6	TV Asahi Acquires Japanese Rights to Broadcast Formula E Championship	Friday, 29 November 2013
7	FOX Deportes Signs NFL Deal to Broadcast Super Bowl in Spanish	Friday, 29 November 2013
8	BT Sport Inks Major NBA UK Broadcast Deal	Thursday, 28 November 2013
9	International Federation of Sport Climbing Signs Japanese Broadcast Deal	Thursday, 28 November 2013
10	Eurosport Secures Pan-European Rights to French Open	Tuesday, 26 November 2013
11	NHL Inks Largest Ever Media Rights Deal with Rogers Communications	Tuesday, 26 November 2013
12	BT Sport to Air Kickboxing’s GLORY	Monday, 25 November 2013
13	beIN SPORT Acquires Euro 2016 Rights in Hong Kong	Monday, 25 November 2013
14	ITV Settles for Highlights Package Deal for Champions League & Europa League	Monday, 25 November 2013
15	Fox Sports Secures Australian Rights to FIFA Club World Cup	Friday, 22 November 2013

Former 2010 World Cup CEO Danny Jordaan Becomes South Africa FA President

Former 2010 FIFA World Cup CEO, medstore Dr Danny Jordaan, has been appointed South African Football Association President after winning the race for the top seat over fellow contender Mandla ‘Shoes’ Mazibuko.

It was an overwhelming majority victory for Dr Jordaan who polled 162 votes to Mazibuko’s 88.

The elections were conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and were also monitored by members from FIFA and continental soccer body, CAF and SASCOC.

Jordaan takes over from Kirsten Nematandani who did not contest the race.

Dr Jordaan, who sought the mandate on the promise to improve Bafana Bafana’s overall performance, youth development, strengthening women football as well as strengthening the Association’s financial standing, said he was excited and was looking forward to deliver on his mandate.

The Vice-Presidents positions went to Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana who garnered 197 votes, Lucas Nhlapo (173) and Elvis Shishana who got 167 votes. The other Vice-President of the Association is Premier Soccer League chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza.

The 10 National List members of the National Executive Committee are, Mr Gladwin White, Mr Kwenzakwakhe Ngwenya, Ms Nomsa Mahlangu, Mr Poobalan Govindasamy, Mr Xolile Nkompela, Mr Truman Prince, Ms Ria Ledwaba, Mr Aubrey Baartman, Advocate Norman Arendse and Ms Anastasia Tsichlas.

Councillors Approve Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic Games Bid

Glasgow is expected to submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) next month for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games after local councillors backed the plans

The city will now formally submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee next month and will compete against five other cities who have lodged an interest – Poznan (Poland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Guadalajara (Mexico), Medellin (Columbia) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

On Thursday, councillors from Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee meeting heard from chief executive George Black.

He said the majority of the infrastructure required for the Games would be in place by 2018 following the Commonwealth Games in two years’ time, including the Hydro Arena and the National Hockey Centre at Glasgow Green.

The only two facilities which will need to be built are a BMX track and a diving pool.

Glasgow City Council will fund 30% of the Games Delivery Budget, with the remaining figure picked up by the Scottish Government.

The Youth Olympic Games were first held in Singapore in August, 2010. It is held every four years and involves around 3600 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18.

Glasgow’s programme would involve 28 sports.

Japanese Businesses Cash in on Olympics

Japanese businesses are boosting their sales promotions of Olympic-related goods and services, viagra including replica uniforms and packaged tours to see the Games.

Package tours to attend the London Olympics have been popular, viagra coupon with applications far outnumbering available spots.

Japan travely agency JTB Corp. offered packaged tours to London and solicited 15 participants for the tour, no rx a six-day trip with four nights in a hotel, priced at 1.3M yen (US $16,200).

The agency received 10 times more applications than available spots, and selected participants by lottery. So far, 30 similar tours have booked 80% of their seats.

Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. said “most of its Olympic tour packages also have sold out,” including a six-day, three-night tour for 450,000 yen ($5,600) that includes tickets to table tennis and swimming events.{jcomments on}

Moynihan Claims ‘Good Progress’ in Dispute as Gov. Step In

A meeting has been arranged between the UK Government and the British Olympic Association (BOA) for today, March 29, to try to find a solution to the cash row threatening to overshadow the build-up to London 2012.

The chairman of the BOA, Colin Moynihan has been at the centre of the untimely dispute however, he announced that the Government had agreed to try to find an “amicable” solution to the row between themselves and London 2012 (LOCOG) over the argument about profits from next year’s Games.

Moynihan spoke ahead of a press conference unveiling 27 sporting icons as Team GB ambassadors, stating: “I can report that good progress was made through the weekend.

“The Government has agreed to hold a discussion to reach an amicable solution to the current contractual dispute.”

Moynihan is due to meet with the Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson before Britain’s National Olympic Committees gather in London tomorrow afternoon where the topic is top of the agenda.

BOA’s opposition in the dispute, the organisers of London 2012, have not been invited to the meeting which follows criticism from Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt who condemned the row over the weekend.

Robertson added: “The last thing any of us wants is a damaging row lasting the summer. I want to see if there is anything the government can do to bring this row to a conclusion.

“The last thing any of us wants is for this to go on for three or four months and end up at CAS. That would be very bad for sport and for London 2012.

“My role is to look at the overall damage this is doing for London 2012 and for British sport and see if there is anything I can do to help come to a solution.

“London’s Olympics is in great shape – it’s on time and it’s to budget. I’m prepared to do anything I can to reach an end to this dispute.”

After London won the rights to host the Games back in 2005, an agreement was signed meaning that the BOA would be entitled to a cut of any profit after 2012, but only after the cost of the Paralympics has been taken away, potentially limiting the amount they will receive.

The BOA is now disputing the contract they signed six years ago and is taking London 2012 to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Whilst they are involved in legal action against LOCOG, Moynihan and BOA chief executive Andy Hunt will not be permitted to take part in any 2012 Olympic Board meetings.

There is increasing pressure – both domestically and internationally – for Moynihan to drop his legal action with the BOA Chair having already angered the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge by turning down the opportunity earlier this month for him to try to resolve the row.

The IOC last week ruled in favour of London 2012 and Denis Oswald, the chairman of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for London 2012, has warned the BOA that they have no chance of winning their case at CAS.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Oswald stated: “It’s very regrettable that they have and we have to spend time on this. It could have been avoided.

“The sooner it is settled the better so that we have it behind us.”

The row took a further twist when Neil Wood, the chief financial officer at London 2012, issued a statement refuting Moynihan’s claims that the Olympics could make a profit of £400 million (US$640 million).

“With reference to a claims by the BOA of a meeting last July between LOCOG and the BOA in which statements allegedly were made by me to the effect that the Olympics would make a profit of about £400 million ($640 million) with the Paralympics making a corresponding loss and at a subsequent meeting I allegedly revised this figure down to £300 million ($480 million) – I have never made such statements, which are in fact untrue,” he said.

Manchester City Buys A-League Club Melbourne Heart

A Manchester City led consortium has purchased Australian A-League club, discount Melbourne Heart FC.

The consortium also includes the ownership group of the Melbourne Storm as minority shareholders with a 20 percent stake.

Ferran Soriano, ambulance CEO of Manchester City, said: “We are excited about the opportunity to make Melbourne Heart one of the most successful football clubs in Australia and throughout the region. We believe the strong sports culture of Melbourne combined with the football and commercial expertise within our consortium will make for a powerful combination both on and off the pitch.”

Bart Campbell, Chairman of the holding company Heart Consortium Group and Chairman of the Melbourne Storm NRL side, said: “Partnering with City to co-invest in Melbourne Heart will further strengthen the sporting landscape in one of the world’s greatest cities and bring a range of new capabilities to AAMI Park. We are excited to be a part of this unique project. It is our shared ambition to replicate the model that City created with the New York Yankees around New York City FC and for both organisations to benefit as a result.”

He added: “We are grateful to Peter Sidwell and his Board for creating a Club with such obvious strengths and potential.”

Speaking on behalf of the exiting Board of Melbourne Heart FC, Chairman Peter Sidwell said, “The Board feels that with the successful establishment and evolution of the Club over the last four years, Melbourne Heart now stands on sound commercial and financial foundations. The Board feels that the next phase of the club’s development can be most fully realised with this new investment and the associated benefits that the enthusiasm of the consortium will bring.”

FFA CEO David Gallop said the acquisition of the Melbourne Heart licence was a huge vote of confidence in the future of the Hyundai A-League.

“Football has moved into the mainstream of Australian sport and is ideally placed to benefit from the boom in football across Asia,” said Gallop.

“Manchester City and their Australian partners have made a strategic investment and I welcome them to our growing competition. It’s another sign that the world is taking notice of Australian football.

“Manchester City and their partners will bring a high level of expertise in football and sports business matters and that can only strengthen the Melbourne Heart and the Hyundai A-League as a whole.”

Regarding its plans for the Club, Ferran Soriano stated: “The first thing we must do is take the time to listen and learn and then to develop our strategy for strengthening the Club over time.”

Manchester City’s investment in Melbourne Heart FC follows its establishment of New York City Football Club in May 2013, which will enter Major League Soccer in the United States in the 2015 season, and its establishment of Manchester City Women’s Football Club, that will play in 2014.

Soccerex Unveils Rebrand for 2014

Soccerex, herbal the global leaders for the business of football, for sale will be rebranding ahead of their new event cycle in 2014, abortion which includes the Soccerex Global Convention moving to Manchester on 6-10 September.

Earlier this year a brief was given to official Soccerex design partners, Designwerk, to refresh all elements of the brand and create a cleaner, more flexible hierarchy for the new event portfolio that could adapt to the dynamic nature of their business. Historically, new event brands have been created for each new Soccerex event cycle but on this occasion, for the first time in eight years, the core Soccerex logo was evaluated.

A sample of the resulting work, which has already secured two prestigious design industry awards, can be seen here and will be rolled out over Soccerex materials through December.

Commenting on the rebrand, Soccerex Marketing Director David Wright said:

“I am delighted with the work Designwerk have done. The rebrand has given us a cleaner, better balanced, more modern core mark that is easier use. The new modular event brand system places Soccerex at the forefront, giving us better ownership of our events and provides a system that is better suited to the dynamic nature of our business and the need to add new events to our portfolio as we expand.”

Designwerk Partner and Founder Cristian Cook added:

“Soccerex is the pinnacle of B2B global football marketing, so when they commissioned us to create their new brand identity, it was a real privilege. Our strategic and creative teams developed a unique identity which is flexible and versatile across all media, and will form the basis of their marketing collateral well into the future.”

The Soccerex Global Convention 2014 will bring the world of football to Manchester for five days of learning, business and networking. The event will provide a platform for the finance, commercial, performance and stadia departments from football clubs around the world and will offer Confederations and Local Organising Committees the opportunity to address the key stages of major tournament delivery.

The 2014 edition has received the support of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, who recently commented:

“I am really looking forward to the World Cup in Brazil and I am also looking forward to reprising its success at Soccerex in Manchester for the Global Convention in September. I wish you all a great 2014 football experience!”

The Soccerex Global Convention is hosted in conjunction with Marketing Manchester. For more information on the event please go to http://www.soccerex.com/events/global.

Frank Huckabone Promoted to Chief Revenue Officer of Fenway Sports Management

Fenway Sports Management (FSM) today announced that Frank Huckabone has been promoted to Executive Vice President/Chief Revenue Officer.

FSM is the sports marketing agency of Fenway Sports Group, click whose properties include the Boston Red Sox, viagra Liverpool Football Club (LFC), anabolics New England Sports Network (NESN) and Roush Fenway Racing (RFR). Huckabone previously served as FSM’s Executive Vice President, Sales.

Huckabone will be responsible for developing and executing an integrated global strategy for Fenway Sports Group’s properties and that of its partners. He will continue to report to FSM’s President Sam Kennedy and Managing Directors Billy Hogan and Mark Lev.

“People who meet Huck want to do business with him,” said FSM President Sam Kennedy. “His ability to close deals is a direct result of his energy and enthusiasm, and the close relationships he develops with his clients. This new position was a logical expansion of his role, and one that will play a critical part in FSM’s continued growth and expansion both nationally and internationally.”

Huckabone will continue to lead FSM’s sales team in securing global partners for the Boston Red Sox, LFC and LeBron James/LRMR Marketing & Branding and securing sponsorships for non-baseball related events at Fenway Park that are operated by FSM, such as Citi Frozen Fenway.

“It’s an honor for me to work with such a talented team of individuals while representing some of the most prominent sports and entertainment brands in the world,” said Huckabone. “I look forward to taking on a greater role in managing our business strategies and continuing to work with my colleagues to develop mutually beneficial partnerships that help Fenway Sports Group’s properties compete at the highest level while helping support the business goals for the top-tier brands that I am so fortunate to be a part of.”

In his previous role at FSM, Huckabone successfully led efforts to integrate sponsorship sales across the company’s sports and entertainment portfolio. During his tenure, Huckabone and his staff helped secure sponsorships for the Boston Red Sox, LFC, NESN, RFR, LeBron James/LRMR Marketing & Branding, Boston College Athletics, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and PGA Tour Playoff event the Deutsche Bank Championship (DBC). He also oversaw sponsorships for signature FSM events including Football at Fenway, a soccer friendly match between LFC and AS Roma, and Frozen Fenway, a 16-day ice hockey event featuring Division I colleges and numerous high school and community hockey games.

This announcement comes on the heels of two executive level appointments including John Clark, Senior Vice President, Sales, who came to FSM from MSG Sports, and Jennifer Flynn, who was promoted to General Counsel.

Huckabone’s more than 15-year career in professional sports began at Madison Square Garden (MSG) where he marketed sponsorships for all MSG-owned and -operated properties (New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, Yankees, Mets and Radio City Music Hall). He spent more than eight years developing integrated brand marketing, advertising sponsorships, and programs that included TV, radio, signage, print and promotional elements, as well as arena- and team-controlled assets.